We live in a toxic world, no one can dispute that. But it’s our liver that takes a great majority of the burden. And the stresses to the liver are caused by more than just the chemical pollutants in the air. There are those in our food, in the pharmaceutical drugs that we take and even second hand smoke.

But the liver has more to do than just filter poisons out of our body. In order for us to remain healthy our liver also performs (but is not limited to) the following functions:

Blood detoxification and purification Metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates Bile production and excretion Enzyme activation Excretion of bilirubin, cholesterol, hormones, and drugs

Care of the liver is key to TOTAL BODY HEALTH!

One way that we can assist the liver and our health is by taking Milk Thistle, also known by its botanical name, silybum marianum, or by its 3 main active compounds collectively known as silymarin.

Milk Thistle is an herb with an ability to defend and rebuild the liver. It is considered by many to be the best product for liver detoxification, protection and regeneration. Its active compounds silymarin is ten times more potent as an antioxidant, than Vitamin E. This makes this powerful antioxidant helpful in preventing free radical damage throughout the body, but especially in the liver, stomach, and intestines.

This cleansing and fortifying herb assists the liver in in part, by preventing the reduction of glutathione. In fact studies show that Milk Thistle actually increases glutathione levels significantly and it is the glutathione, an amino-acid like compound that is critical to neutralizing toxins.

There are now 137 scientific studies on pubmed, heralding the benefits of Milk Thistle. For additional information on this beneficial herb, you may want to go to pubmed and check it out yourself.

When purchasing Milk Thistle, it is important that you choose a standardized product which contains a minimum of 70% to 80% silymarin in each dose. This would ensure that a significant amount would reach the bloodstream and eventually reach the liver, giving you the full therapeutic benefits.

So if you are feeling sluggish, or suspect your liver needs a bit of help, you might take a look at an amazing herb called Milk Thistle!

Milk Thistle, a welcomed addition to TRUE HEALTHY LIVING!

About the author:

Due to personal health issues we have been researching health & fitness for the last five years. The information we have obtained has helped us and our family members get off pharmaceutical drugs and regain a level of health we had never known. Please visit us at http://www.truehealthyliving.blogspot.com

We live in a toxic world, no one can dispute that. But it’s our liver that takes a great majority of the burden. And the stresses to the liver are caused by more than just the chemical pollutants in the air. There are those in our food, in the pharmaceutical drugs that we take and even second hand smoke.

But the liver has more to do than just filter poisons out of our body. In order for us to remain healthy our liver also performs (but is not limited to) the following functions:

Blood detoxification and purification Metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates Bile production and excretion Enzyme activation Excretion of bilirubin, cholesterol, hormones, and drugs

Care of the liver is key to TOTAL BODY HEALTH!

One way that we can assist the liver and our health is by taking Milk Thistle, also known by its botanical name, silybum marianum, or by its 3 main active compounds collectively known as silymarin.

Milk Thistle is an herb with an ability to defend and rebuild the liver. It is considered by many to be the best product for liver detoxification, protection and regeneration. Its active compounds silymarin is ten times more potent as an antioxidant, than Vitamin E. This makes this powerful antioxidant helpful in preventing free radical damage throughout the body, but especially in the liver, stomach, and intestines.

This cleansing and fortifying herb assists the liver in in part, by preventing the reduction of glutathione. In fact studies show that Milk Thistle actually increases glutathione levels significantly and it is the glutathione, an amino-acid like compound that is critical to neutralizing toxins.

There are now 137 scientific studies on pubmed, heralding the benefits of Milk Thistle. For additional information on this beneficial herb, you may want to go to pubmed and check it out yourself.

When purchasing Milk Thistle, it is important that you choose a standardized product which contains a minimum of 70% to 80% silymarin in each dose. This would ensure that a significant amount would reach the bloodstream and eventually reach the liver, giving you the full therapeutic benefits.

So if you are feeling sluggish, or suspect your liver needs a bit of help, you might take a look at an amazing herb called Milk Thistle!

Milk Thistle, a welcomed addition to TRUE HEALTHY LIVING!

About the author:

Due to personal health issues we have been researching health & fitness for the last five years. The information we have obtained has helped us and our family members get off pharmaceutical drugs and regain a level of health we had never known. Please visit us at http://www.truehealthyliving.blogspot.com

Recently, on an e-mail list for candida sufferers to which I subscribe, a lady expressed frustration at the number of different approaches one can take to candida. She felt confused as to which way to treat her own illness. Certainly, it can be very frustrating with any illness
when you start to try to figure out how to treat it. There will always
be contradictions from all sides. I went through my own time of confusion, as
well. I think, however, that the key is to treat your quest in the same way that you would if you were doing a research
paper: Look at a variety of different sources and of course, do a
lot of preliminary research before writing the paper. Then, when it is
time to write, you take all the different perspectives, do your
own reasoning about what you have read, and come to your own conclusions.

When searching for how to treat your illness, whether it is candida overgrowth or something else entirely, do your research before you “write”! I have learned that it is not
good enough to just absorb all the information and try various
approaches as though you were sampling a buffet. You have to think about how all the information you are
gathering relates. You have to ask yourself “why” all the
time. “Why do I have Candida?” Then when you think you have found an
answer, look harder. You may find what looks like an answer: “It’s
because I took birth control pills, which messed up my immune function.”
(That was this lady’s own perspective, by the way). Is that really the answer? Or is there another
layer of “why”? Ask yourself why the birth control pills did that and
you may find more answers to questions you hadn’t thought to ask.

I have come to the conclusion that the liver plays a big role in all
illnesses and that cleaning the liver can be key to starting the healing
process. I am very familiar with Chinese medicine, but apparently, it is very
focused on treating the liver for any illness. All the other remedies, diets,
and medicines may “work” to a degree, but your body has to be in a state
that makes it possible to heal. The liver is your body’s filter and if
it is not functioning properly, then you cannot filter toxins, which are subsequently circulating in your body, making it
harder to heal. Things such as birth control pills have a harmful affect
on your liver. What one eats also affects liver function, and thus
affects candida and other illnesses that a person may have. If you eat a
“candida diet” or any other special diet, how much it helps your candida
is correlated to how much it helps your liver.

A great book I highly recommend is The Liver Cleansing Diet
by Dr.
Sandra Cabot. She goes into these ideas deeper and has a great eating
plan for cleansing the liver. After doing that type of cleanse, the key
is to eat a healthy, liver-friendly diet. It is a diet that is well-balanced, full of fresh fruits and vegetables, and low in “bad” fats, while providing plenty of healthy fats. It
is a diet that most people would recognize as a practical, healthy diet.
(Interestingly, before I read her book, I was already eating–or trying
to eat–a diet very similar to the one she proposes based on my own
conception of a healthy diet from other reading on various topics.)

So, that is my own experience with researching various casues and treatment options for candida and the conclusions that I have come to based upon it. I hope you, too, will consider the role of the Liver in candida and other illnesses, and above all, do your own research before you draw conclusions!

About the Author

Danielle Papageorgiou runs several websites, including < "www.NutritionTalkNow.com”>http://www.nutritiontalknow.com”>www.NutritionTalkNow.com, < "YeastRemedies.com”>http://www.YeastRemedies.com”>YeastRemedies.com, and < "Family”>http://www.shaklee.net/jonanddanielle.html”>Family Health Group. She has been studying nutrition for over a decade.

The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical care.

The liver is one of the most important organs in the body. Whilst the liver can be damaged it is amazingly regenerative. To regain and maintain good liver health is reasonably easy if the liver is not too badly damaged. Follow these guidelines to nourish and protect your liver.

The liver is one of the most important organs in the body. Commonly referred to as a “filter,” the liver is actually more subtle and sophisticated than a passive filter. Every drop of blood in your body moves through your liver every hour of every day you are alive – not to be filtered, but to be restored.  

Think of the liver as a recycling center. As the blood moves through the intricate network of cells that make up the liver, it is carefully examined. Metabolic by-products, hormones, cholesterol, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, bacteria, viral particles, and all the chemical detritus of living that are in the blood are judged: some are allowed to stay, others dismantled for recycling, and some tagged for removal. 

The liver stores very little. It produces bile, which is stored in the gall bladder. With the kidneys, it creates vitamins A and D, and stores those fat soluble products. And, of course, the liver caches unused energy from food in the form of sugar.  

Chemicals, however, do not build up in the liver, despite what you may have read. The liver sends unneeded water-soluble chemicals, such as ammonia, to the kidneys to be excreted. (To get a sense of how quickly this happens, eat some asparagus, which contains a harmful natural chemical, and notice the smell of your urine, and how quickly you have to “go.”) The liver incarcerates oil-soluble chemicals by locking them up in fat cells, or sending them to be excreted in breast milk, ejaculations, ovulations, and tears. (Chemicals are not excreted by sweating.) 

The liver can be damaged. Alcohol can kill liver cells. Viruses, especially hepatitis viruses, can destroy liver cells. And cancer can take over the liver and quickly render it dysfunctional.  

But the liver is amazingly regenerative. Cellular turnover is quite fast. Every cell in a healthy liver is replaced every forty days. Only substances that can keep up with the ever-changing liver are preserved (such as vitamins and sugars); chemical toxins are made homeless. 

To regain and maintain good liver health is reasonably easy if the liver is not too badly damaged. I follow these guidelines to nourish and protect my liver: 

Avoid liver cleanses. Herbal and other products and regimes which claim to cleanse the liver can damage and destroy cells. The liver cannot be dirty; and it does not need to be cleansed. 

Eat well and regularly. Fasting reduces liver efficiency quickly.  

Eat cooked food. Raw food may contain bacterial, viral, and enzymatic substances that create more work for, and may even cause an infection in, the liver. Fruits and vegetables need to be well cooked; steaming may not be enough to kill pathogens. 

Eat enough fat. But not vegetable oils, which can cause inflammation and increase chemical sensitivities and auto-immune problems. Instead, I use olive oil, butter, and full-fat dairy products. I believe that diets containing 30-35% non-vegetable fats promote both liver and heart health. An article in Science News, May 28, 2005, observes: “In the absence dietary fat [there is] a marked decline in the metabolism of glucose, fatty acids, and cholesterol.”  

Avoid ingesting chemicals. Remember that chemicals are stored in fat and excreted in milk, eggs, and sperm. To avoid chemicals in your food, focus your organic expenditures on organic butter, oil, cheese, full-fat milk, eggs, meat, nuts, seeds, beans, and grains. The amount of agricultural chemicals in one pound of non-organic butter is equivalent to eating non-organic produce for ten years. With the exception of apricots, cherries, peaches, strawberries, melons, cucumbers, green beans, and bell peppers – the most heavily “dosed” produce – I often buy locally-grown non-organic produce since the cost is usually far less. 

Get angry. The liver is the storehouse of unexpressed rage. And, yes, we are all angry about “life as it is” as one of my teachers puts it. My mentor, Elizabeth Kubler Ross, favored a Manhattan phone book and a rubber radiator hose as a way to “wake up and work out” anger.  A rolled-up newspaper and a cushion, a tennis racket and a bed, or even boxing gloves and a “heavy bag” will also work. Don’t wait until you are angry. Make it a part of your routine, just like brushing your teeth. Set aside at least thirty minutes a week to bring your anger to the surface. You will be shocked at the rapid benefits this brings your liver and your health.

Avoid essential oils. Even natural essential oils can impair liver function. Look for them hidden in natural and organic products such as soaps, toothpaste, mouthwash, skin lotions, deodorants and antiperspirants, and candles. And avoid antibacterial soaps, too.  

Use herbs that nourish the liver. Simple remedies such as dandelion, yellow dock, chicory, milk thistle, and nettle aid the liver and are safe to use. But many herbal remedies, especially those taken in capsules, are hard on the liver and need to be avoided or used with great care and caution when liver function is not strong.  

Avoid herbs that are rich in alkaloids and other natural chemicals that stress the liver: including golden seal, senna, celandine, chaparral, lobelia, licorice, valerian, rhubarb root, cayenne, and poke root. Some sensitive people may find aromatic herbs such as peppermint, lemon balm, rosemary, thyme, and lavender upsetting to their livers. 

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is probably the simplest, safest, most effective, and least expensive liver-nourishing herb known. All parts of the plant are medicinal: root, leaves, stalks, and flowers. Tincture of the root is most often used, but root vinegars, flower wine, cooked leaves, and stalk tea may be substituted. The greatest effect comes from eating or taking a dandelion remedy three times a day, but even once a day is useful. For more information on making and taking dandelion remedies, please see my book Healing Wise. The usual dose of the tincture is 10-30 drops diluted in some water and taken before meals. There is no known overdose.  

Yellow dock (Rumex crispus and other species) is another common weed widely used to improve liver functioning. The root is generally tinctured and taken in 20-30 drop doses with meals; but the leaves or seeds can be put up in apple cider vinegar, and 2-3 tablespoonfuls taken on salad, cooked greens, or in water. Yellow dock, like dandelion is simple and safe to use. There is no known overdose. It is a highly effective agent for promoting bowel regularity. 

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) flashes her brilliant blue flowers for months along roadsides here in the northeast. In the fall, we dig her roots to make a liver-strengthening tincture. The dose is usually 20-40 drops three times a day in some water. There is no known overdose. Some folks do drink chicory root tea, but it is very bitter. Roasted chicory roots are used as a coffee substitute; opinion is divided as to whether this preparation still has medicinal qualities.  

Milk thistle seed (Psylibum marianum or Carduus marianum) is the most famous liver tonic in the United States. It is widely recommended for anyone dealing with liver problems, whether it be jaundice, hepatitis, or multiple chemical sensitivities. It is not a wild plant, but it is relatively easy to grow from seed, and the seeds are available and not too expensive. A dose of the tincture is 1-2 dropperfuls 2-4 times a day. There is no known overdose.  

To tincture seeds that you buy, simply fill a jar one-third full of milk thistle seed. Then fill the jar to the top with 100 proof vodka (no, 80 proof won’t work). Shake daily for a week, then sit back and wait for five more weeks. After six or more weeks, your tincture is ready to use. Leave the seeds in the vodka for as long as you wish, even after you start using your tincture. 

Milk thistle is most properly thought of as a liver protector. It functions best when taken before the liver encounters alcohol, chemicals, poisons, or other stressors. Those with chemical sensitivities find it helpful to take a large dose of milk thistle seed tincture before venturing into difficult environments.  

Nettle, also known as stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), is one of my favorite herbal remedies for everyone. I pour a quart of boiling water over an ounce of dried nettle (that’s about one full cup) in a canning jar, screw a tight lid on the jar, and let it steep for at least four hours. 

The resulting brew, which is dark and rich, nourishes the kidneys and adrenals as well as the liver. Allergic reactions of all kinds, including sensitivities to natural and man-made chemicals, may have as much to do with the adrenals as with the liver. I drink 2-4 cups of nettle infusion daily for optimum health. There is no known overdose.  

Look for results from these Wise Woman ways within a month of beginning regular use. No need to use all the herbs mentioned. Consistent use of even one of them, along with anger work and a good diet, can bring results that border on the miraculous. 

Herbal medicine is people’s medicine. It is here for all of us: simple, safe, and free. You don’t have to be an herbalist to understand and use the herbs I have discussed. You can buy or make your own remedies, as you wish. Your children will be delighted to join you in exploring the green blessings that grow all around you.

Susun Weed
PO Box 64
Woodstock, NY 12498
Fax: 1-845-246-8081

Visit Susun Weed at: www.susunweed.com;and www.ashtreepublishing.com

For permission to reprint this article, contact us at: susunweed@herbshealing.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative

Caffeine, like chocolate, often receives bad publicity. Whilst in some instances, and in excess, these can have negative effects on our body, they can also be quite beneficial.

I am not disputing that some people are more sensitive to the negative effects of either caffeine or chocolate. For example, excess caffeine can create anxiety, nausea (particularly if taken on an empty stomach), an increase in heart rate, and even depression in some people. And chocolate is certainly not something that should form the mainstay of one’s diet. If struggling with sugar addiction, or wanting to lose weight, there are more nutritionally complete foods that are available.

But scientists have turned up some interesting facts on caffeine. For example, caffeine actually blocks the effects of a neurotransmitter in the brain (adenosine) that otherwise makes us feel tired. This is why it works so well to keep us awake. It also encourages the release of another brain chemical, dopamine (as well as adrenaline). Dopamine contributes to a feeling of well being.

Two studies, one a population based study (which are not as specific or rigorously defined as other types of studies, but nonetheless valuable indicators) found that drinking caffeine containing drinks like coffee and tea had a protective effect for those at risk of developing liver disease. Issues that the study participants had that increased their risk of liver disease included alcoholism, hepatitis B or C, obesity, or other complications.

And the results indicated that people who drank more than 2 cups of coffee a day had a 44% lower chance of showing actual liver damage compared to those who drank no caffeine. This was not a clinical trial, and the reason why coffee and tea had such an effect is not known. Coffee and tea contain a range of plant chemicals (phytonutrients) that could be responsible for this. A 2005 Norwegian study also found similar benefits for coffee with regards liver disease. This study found that drinking 3 cups of coffee a day could lower the risk of death from liver cirrhosis.

Even if you’re not at risk of liver disease, caffeine still has some advantages. Recent research from Austria showed that caffeine may actually enhance short term memory. Researchers found that there was an increase in brain activity (as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging) in the parts of the brain that were associated with memory and attention. These parts of the brain were the frontal lobe and the anterior cingulum. This was a placebo controlled study, meaning that some people were not given any caffeine. Another, earlier study (2004) found that caffeine did support short term memory, but only when it was in relation to a topic that people were already thinking about. This study found that when testing coffee’s effects on unrelated subjects, short term recall was actually inhibited.

Everything does have a flip side though. Adenosine, which is blocked by coffee, is also calming. This could be why it can also cause anxiety in excess, and in some individuals. After all, the balance of our brain chemistry is unique. And when we are addicted to stimulants like caffeine, we lose the sensitivity to our own natural stimulants (dopamine and adrenaline).

References:
Australian Healthy Food, February 2006.
http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?n=52281-caffeine-containing-drinks
http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=64274&m=1FSND06&idP=2&c=qgtqmovbyiaxdub

About the Author:

If you want a gentler source of caffeine that also has antioxidant benefits, try green tea. Find out more about the health benefits, including about green tea weight loss here: http://www.vitaminstohealth.com/green-tea-weight-loss.html

Source: www.isnare.com